Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists betting is a 'general problem in our society'

Joey Barton was banned from football for 18 months earlier this week

Wenger believes addiction to gambling is a real problem in sport (Getty)

Arsene Wenger has claimed that society as a whole, and not just football, has a gambling problem in the wake of Joey Barton’s 18-month ban for betting on games.

The Burnley midfielder, who plans to appeal, was banned after allegedly placing 1,260 bets on football matches between March 2006 and May 2013, 30 of which were games involving him.

Barton, when reacting to the ban, said the FA should reconsider its own dependence on the gambling industry if they were actually serious about tackling the problem.

And while Wenger agrees with Barton being punished, he echoed his views that it’s no surprise that people get addicted to gambling, when it is advertised everywhere across television coverage.

“Well it is a little bit of a general problem in our society,” Wenger said. “Everywhere you can bet so you cannot be surprised that some people get addicted.

“If you don’t want people to bet, you don’t make betting official. Out of 100 people you would get five who get addicted, so if you don’t want that to happen you don’t make it official.

“I think football deals with the problem very well. If you don’t follow the rules you are punished.

“You see it on Sky Sports, everywhere. You have not to be surprised that people get addicted.

“If you don't want people to bet, you don't make betting official. If you don't want people to bet then you should forbid it from society, which I completely agree with.”